"Then let's begin, Mr. Sakumo."
Seisui raised Muramasa and took a deep breath.
So far, the strongest opponent Seisui had faced was Uchiha Yashiro. But in terms of fighting style, that elite Jonin had been completely countered by Seisui, making him an ineffective point of reference.
Hatake Sakumo, on the other hand, was a genuine Kage Level ninja without the slightest exaggeration—a soul who could still serve as the spearhead and core of the Shinobi World during a great war.
Behind Seisui's Water Membrane, his Double Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly.
Muramasa in his hand erupted with even fiercer flames.
In an instant—
Muramasa's blade, wreathed in howling fire, slashed toward Hatake Sakumo from an uncanny angle!
"So fast!"
Kakashi, watching from the side, was startled. Even though he was observing the battle with all his focus, Seisui's speed had exceeded his expectations. All he could make out were vague afterimages!
If Uchiha Seisui came at me with everything he had, I probably wouldn't even have the chance to use Earth Style: Earth Wall...
Kakashi's eyes widened, filled with unwillingness.
Clang!
The sharp White Fang, wrapped in dense azure Chakra, precisely blocked Muramasa's blade.
Seisui narrowed his eyes and thought, My speed is clearly within Hatake Sakumo's perception. Overall, I'm still a level below him, which is why he's so composed.
But I still need to test his strength... No, I need to strike him with everything I've got...
Seisui drew back his blade. The muscles in his arm bulged as Chakra, under precise control, reinforced his strength and flowed into Muramasa. At the same time, the Tomoe spun, releasing Dojutsu to attack Hatake Sakumo with Genjutsu!
"Strength of a Hundred—Tobirama-Izuna Style Kenjutsu: Single Blade Caress Slash!"
Blending Tobirama's monstrous strength with the Sharingan's Dojutsu, and combining the Kenjutsu styles of Uchiha Izuna and Tobirama Senju, Seisui perfectly merged the strengths of his two opponents into a technique of his own!
Tobirama Senju narrowed his eyes as he sensed the force behind that strike and snorted. "Superfluous. With this old man's Senju-style Kenjutsu, I wouldn't lose to the Hatake family's samurai swordsmanship..."
"But that brat Seisui combined them fairly well. It's quite a troublesome strike."
Yet contrary to his words—
Seisui's slash reminded Tobirama Senju of himself, and of Uchiha Izuna. He could even faintly sense the power of Senju and Uchiha merging.
The techniques wielded by these two enemies, who had slaughtered one another for a thousand years, seemed unexpectedly harmonious and seamless when fused together. Tobirama vaguely felt as though he had realized something.
Hatake Sakumo and Seisui locked eyes.
For some reason, Seisui's deep eyes made him feel momentarily dazed.
And in that fleeting instant, Seisui's heavy blade broke through the safe distance and came howling toward his chest!
Hatake Sakumo was startled. Even with his willpower and experience, though he broke free from the Genjutsu in an instant, every sliver of initiative was crucial in close-range blade combat.
White Fang moved a fraction too late, yet arrived first, catching up to Muramasa's speed!
But...
An overwhelming force beyond Hatake Sakumo's expectations firmly suppressed White Fang's blade!
The explosive monstrous strength of the Senju multiplied Seisui's power severalfold in that strike. With the advantage of initiative, he broke through Hatake Sakumo's defense in one breath!
Muramasa bore down on White Fang. The entire slender katana seemed to go berserk, carrying a bloodthirsty intent as though it wanted to cleave both the White Fang dagger and Hatake Sakumo apart!
Chakra surged violently throughout Hatake Sakumo's body. In an instant, his speed rose to its limit. Borrowing Muramasa's force, he moved as far from the blade as possible and narrowly dodged the strike in extreme danger!
"How is that possible... Father was actually forced back by Uchiha Seisui!"
Kakashi was at a loss. This scene had surpassed his understanding.
During his past training with his father, no matter how hard Kakashi tried, Hatake Sakumo had always stood there smiling without even shifting his feet, casually neutralizing every attack.
For a long time, Kakashi's short-term training goal had been to make Hatake Sakumo move during their sparring sessions...
Blood trickled from Hatake Sakumo's chest. A shallow yet clearly visible cut had pierced through his clothing.
Seisui slowly exhaled, feeling genuine respect for Hatake Sakumo's strength.
That strike had been the full extent of Seisui's Kenjutsu.
With the fusion of surprise-kill techniques such as Strength of a Hundred and the Sharingan, Seisui was confident that even against a Three Tomoe user on Uchiha Yashiro's level, he could achieve something with a single slash.
Yet even so, Hatake Sakumo had still avoided it.
"Remarkable. Truly remarkable, Seisui-kun..." Hatake Sakumo casually lowered his head to look at the wound on his chest and smiled.
"Good thing you're still a child and your body hasn't fully matured yet. Otherwise, I might have needed emergency treatment."
Seisui shook his head. Certainly, his age was one reason why his Sage Body had yet to unleash its full power.
But so what?
In the Shinobi World, surviving until adulthood as a genius was an immense feat in itself, and one of the greatest talents.
Before talent was converted into strength, it was nothing more than an empty, worthless reputation.
"Mr. Sakumo, please don't hold back. I want to witness the true full strength of a ninja like you!"
Seisui looked seriously at Hatake Sakumo and said clearly and firmly, "I know a little Medical Ninjutsu, so there's no need to worry about my injuries. Just leave me with a single breath."
"Compared to Kakashi-kun, I have far too few opportunities to fight a ninja like you, so I treasure them greatly."
Hatake Sakumo silently watched the solemn Seisui. Only after a long while did he softly say, "Seisui-kun, you possess a sincere heart."
"Since that is the case, if I continue refusing, it would be arrogance on my part."
The moment Hatake Sakumo finished speaking, his aura subtly changed.
His entire being became incomparably dangerous and sharp. It seemed that merely looking into his eyes would make one's eyes sting and send a chill down one's neck.
Suddenly!
Hatake Sakumo raised White Fang. Slashing waves several men high roared endlessly from its blade, carving through the ground before him at a speed almost impossible to perceive with the naked eye, sealing off every direction around Seisui!
And Hatake Sakumo himself became an afterimage. White Fang's edge was restrained to the point of being nearly imperceptible, poised in his hand as he stared fixedly at Seisui's vital points!
Hatake Sakumo had launched a serious attack!
"Father..."
After the battle ended, Kakashi stared blankly at the ground that had been reduced to scorched earth. "Did you go easy on him just now?"
Hatake Sakumo shook his head. "On the contrary, I was very serious."
"Seisui-kun as he is now truly cannot fight me head-on."
"But with his Genjutsu and Water Release, if Seisui refuses to confront me directly, it would be truly difficult for me to restrain him..."
"Kakashi, work hard. You may have encountered a genius of your generation."
"But Dad believes in you..."
Yet Hatake Sakumo's eyes carried a trace of pity.
He did not believe that Kakashi would one day surpass Seisui.
In every generation of the Shinobi World, there would be a ninja of extraordinary talent who filled his peers with utter despair, becoming a mountain none of them could cross.
And Hatake Sakumo, who possessed a keen eye for judging people, vaguely felt that Seisui might be such a ninja.
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